Method for joining sandwich truss core panels and composite structures produced therefrom

ABSTRACT

Fluted core sandwich panels are joined together to form a composite structure. Variations in panel ends are accommodated by a core stiffener insert installed in a joint between ends of the panels.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 12/243,926 filed Oct. 1, 2008 and 12/398,138 filed Mar. 4, 2009, and to Provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 61/196,242 filed Oct. 16, 2008, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure generally relates to techniques for fabricating composite structures, and deals more particularly with a method of joining sandwich truss core panels, especially curved panels used to form barrel-shaped structures.

BACKGROUND

Large composite structures are sometimes fabricated by joining together composite sandwich panels. For example, in the aerospace industry, curved composite sandwich panels may be joined together to form barrel sections used for space exploration vehicles, fuel tanks and airplane fuselages, to name only a few. In some applications, the panels may be assembled on a cylindrical cure mandrel and then processed in an autoclave to co-cure the panels and form an integrated structure with strong joints between the panels. However, autoclave processing may not be feasible in applications where the dimensions of the composite structure exceed the size of commercially available autoclave equipment.

Out-of-autoclave processes for joining sandwich truss core panels to form large composite structures have been developed as described in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 12/243,926 filed Oct. 1, 2008, and 12/398,138 filed Mar. 4, 2009. These prior applications disclose processes for joining pre-cured sandwich panels having fluted truss type cores using adhesively bonded scarf joints. In order to produce a barrel section using these panels, the core flutes must substantially “match-up” at the panel joints in order avoid areas where the structure has less than the desired shear and stiffness capability. Matching up the core flutes may be difficult in a manufacturing environment because as the panels are placed on the mandrel and joined together, the position of the flutes of adjoining panels in the final joint may vary in location for a number of reasons, including variations in accumulated manufacturing tolerances. This variability may lead to a condition where the position of the final core flute in the last joint is too far from the joint centerline to maintain the desired shear and stiffness capability relative to the remainder of the panel.

Accordingly, there is a need for a method of forming joints between sandwich panels employing fluted cores which accommodate variations in the location of the panel ends relative to the final joint centerline. There is also a need for a method of fabricating curved composite structures formed by truss core panels connected together by such joints.

SUMMARY

The disclosed embodiments provide an out-of-autoclave method for joining the ends of composite panels, and particularly curved panels that are joined together to form barrel type or similar curved composite structures. The panel joint formed by the disclosed method accommodates variations in the spacing of panel ends from a joint centerline and/or a range of mate-up conditions between adjoining panel ends, due to tooling variations, flute fit-up, material thickness variations and other variables. Varying circumferential flute-to-flute fit-up conditions can be accommodated by minor modification of panel ends, a core stiffener insert and/or the scarf splices. The disclosed method for forming panel joints may reduce or eliminate the need for local pad-ups, thick splices, potting and fasteners. Accordingly, the panel joint produced by the disclosed method may reduce the weight of the composite structure and/or reduce the time, material and labor required to form the joints.

The disclosed method allows joining panels in an out-of-autoclave process which is relatively simple, repeatable and cost effective. Challenging flute-to-flute bonding is reduced or eliminated through the use of a pre-cured core stiffener insert installed in the joint. The method allows mate-up of adjoining panels regardless of how the flutes and/or panel ends come together. Inboard and outboard scarf splices used in the joint can be pre-cured to substantially identical geometries, and the layup of the installed stiffeners, as well as their geometry and angularity can be optimized for a given application. The core stiffener insert can be premade and cut to a desired width during the final panel fit-up, thereby simplifying the fit-up process. The panel joints can be located using relatively simple tooling which may result in the joint outer mold line surfaces being relatively smooth.

According to one disclosed embodiment, a curved composite structure comprises first and second composite panels each having an end, and a joint coupling the ends of the panels together. Each of the panels includes first and second facesheets and a fluted core sandwiched between the facesheets. The joint includes a core stiffener insert configured to accommodate variations in the panel ends. The core stiffener insert may include one of a substantially 90 degree I-beam, a canted I-beam and a double legged truss number. The joint further includes first and second scarf splices each of which is joined to the core stiffener insert.

According to another disclosed embodiment, a composite structure comprises a plurality of curved panels joined together to form a closed curved cross section. Each of the panels includes a core sandwiched between a pair of facesheets. A joint between at least two of the panels includes a core stiffener insert configured to match-up the cores of the two panels. The joint further includes scarf splices bonded to the core stiffener insert and to the facesheets of the two panels. The core stiffener insert is bonded to portions of the cores of the two panels and may be substantially symmetric about a centerline passing through the joint.

According to a further embodiment, a method is provided of fabricating a composite structure. The method comprises forming first and second panels each having a fluted core and an end wherein the fluted cores are mismatched at the panel ends. The method further comprises altering the panel ends to match-up the cores and joining the altered panel ends together. Altering panel ends may include removing a portion of the end of the core of at least one of the panels such that the core ends are matched to each other. Joining the panel ends includes installing a core stiffener insert between the matched core ends.

According to still another embodiment, a method is provided of fabricating a composite structure comprising providing two composite panel ends and joining the panel ends with a core stiffener insert. Each of the composite panels includes a fluted core sandwiched between first and second facesheets, wherein the ends of the cores are mismatched. The core stiffener insert mates the mismatched core ends and transfers loads between the facesheets and across the panels. The method may further comprise matching the core ends to the core stiffener insert by removing at least a portion of one of the core ends. The method may further comprise installing a first splice between the first facesheets of the panels, and installing a second splice between the second facesheets of the panels. The first and second splices are bonded with the core stiffener insert.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIONS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a perspective view of a composite barrel section.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a perspective view of composite panels being joined together over a mandrel to form the barrel section of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a perspective view of one of the panels shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a sectional view of two panel ends connected by a joint having a center span that may be too large to maintain the desired panel stiffness.

FIG. 5 is an illustration similar to FIG. 4 in which the flutes in the panel ends are not symmetric about the centerline of the joint.

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a functional block diagram of a joint formed between panel ends using the disclosed method.

FIG. 7 is an illustration of a sectional view of panel ends joined together in accordance with the disclosed method, parts of the joint being exploded for clarity.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of a cross sectional view of an I-beam form of the core stiffener insert.

FIG. 9 is an illustration of panel ends joined together by a joint employing a canted I-beam as a core stiffener insert.

FIG. 10 is an illustration of a perspective, sectional view of panel ends joined by a multi-leg truss core stiffener insert.

FIG. 11 is an illustration similar to FIG. 10 but showing a multi-leg truss core stiffener having a narrower width.

FIG. 12 is an illustration of a flow diagram of a method for joining sandwich truss core panels.

FIG. 13 is an illustration of panel ends prior to being trimmed.

FIG. 14 is an illustration similar to FIG. 13 but showing the flutes of panel ends having been trimmed.

FIG. 15 is an illustration similar to FIG. 14 but showing a core stiffener insert having been installed between the panel ends.

FIG. 16 is an illustration of the area designated as FIG. 16 in FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is an illustration similar to FIG. 15 but showing the scarf splices having been installed in the joint.

FIG. 18 is an illustration of the area designated as FIG. 18 in FIG. 17.

FIG. 19 is a flow diagram of aircraft production and service methodology.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram of an aircraft.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring first to FIGS. 1-3, a curved composite structure 32 may be fabricated by joining together a plurality of curved composite sandwich panels 30 along their outer ends 48. As used herein, “curved” refers to a structure that may include one or more curves or contours which may be regular or irregular, and/or continuous or discontinuous. In the illustrated embodiment, the composite structure 32 comprises a barrel section which may be used, for example and without limitation in the aerospace industry to form space exploration vehicles, lifting bodies, fuel tanks and a aircraft fuselage, to name only a few. While a barrel shaped composite structure 32 is shown in the exemplary embodiment, it is to be understood that a variety of other shapes of curved composite structures with closed curved cross sections may be fabricated using the disclosed method, particularly those that may be too large in scale to be placed in an autoclave for processing. It may also be possible to use the disclosed method to fabricate curved composite structures that do not have closed cross sections, where it is necessary to join panel ends that may not mate-up.

Each of the panels 30 comprises a fluted core 34, also sometimes referred to herein as a truss core, sandwiched between first and second composite facesheets 36, 38. The composite sandwich panels 30 may be similar to those described in U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 12/243,926 filed Oct. 1, 2008 and 12/398,138 filed Mar. 4, 2009, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated by reference herein. The sandwich panels 30 may be pre-cured using autoclave or other suitable processing techniques and are placed on a mandrel 50 or other tool used to support the panels 30 during assembly. Other forms of tooling may be used to locate and position the panels during assembly, such as rings (not shown). As will be discussed below in more detail, the panel ends 48 are bonded together in an out-of-autoclave process using a suitable adhesive film (not shown) that is cured at elevated temperature, referred to sometimes as “hot bonding”. Following assembly of the panels 30, the facesheets 36, 38 respectively form outboard and inboard surfaces 42, 46 (FIG. 1) of the composite structure 32.

Referring now also to FIGS. 4 and 5, during assembly of the panels 30 while on the mandrel 50 shown in FIG. 3, the last set of panel ends 48 a, 48 b to be joined together may not fit-up or match with each other so as to form a joint 54 that provides the desired shear, stiffness and/or load transfer capability. For example, FIG. 4 illustrates a possible fit-up in which the flutes 40 of the adjoining panel ends 48 a, 48 b overlap, thus requiring that portions 40 a, 40 b of the flutes 40 be trimmed away so that they match at the centerline 56 of the joint 54. Although the trimmed flutes 40 are substantially symmetric about the centerline 56, the span “L” across the joint 54 may be too large to maintain desired panel shear, stiffness and/or load transfer ability through the joint 54. FIG. 5 illustrates another example of a mismatch between the panel ends 48 a, 48 b in which trimming a portion 40 a of one of the flutes 40 results in the panel ends 48 a, 48 b not being centered or symmetric about the centerline 56. This lack of joint symmetry about the centerline 56 may also result in less than desired panel shear, stiffness and/or load transferring ability through the joint 54.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the disclosed embodiments provide a method of forming a joint 54 between panel ends 48 which maintains the desired panel shear, stiffness and/or load transfer capability in spite of mismatches between the panel ends 48. In order to maintain the desired panel properties in the area of the joint 54, a core stiffener inset 58 is installed between the panel ends 48. The stiffener insert 58 is a precured composite member having a size, shape, ply orientation and angularity that substantially matches or exceeds the stiffness of the panels 30. The composite insert 58 re-establishes shear and stiffness capability in the joint 54 after the panel ends 48 have been trimmed/fitted.

The stiffener insert 58 provides a local mechanism for load transfer between the panels inner and outer facesheets 36, 38. The stiffener insert 58 can be formed of pre-preg tape and/or fabric plies, and upper and lower radius fillers (not shown in FIG. 6). To accommodate the flute and panel ends variations, the inserts 58 may be cured over-wide and trimmed to match the dimensions of the flutes 40 during pre-bond fit-up. Pre-curing the stiffener inserts 58 may eliminate the need for side pressure in the flutes 40 during the bonding process. A pair of composite scarf splices 60 forming part of the joint 54 are adhesively bonded to both panel ends 48 and the stiffener insert 58 by means of a suitable adhesive 66 such as a film adhesive. The scarf splices 60 may be pre-cured or double vacuum debulked and function to carry in-plane tension and compression loads through the joint 54. Scarf steps 94 (FIG. 16) formed on the facesheets 36, 38 help minimize end of joint load concentration.

FIG. 7 illustrates a typical core stiffener insert 58 having the cross sectional shape of a 90 degree I-beam, comprising a pair of flanges 64 connected by a web 62. In this example, the stiffener insert 58 is installed between adjacent flutes 40 of panel ends 48 which have been trimmed so as to be symmetric about the centerline 56 of the joint 54. Portions 52 of the facesheets 36, 38 have been ramped to receive tapered scarf splices 60 which overlie and are bonded to facesheets 36, 38, and to the flanges 64 of the stiffener insert 58.

FIG. 8 illustrates one form of a core stiffener insert 58 having a substantially I-shaped cross section formed by two C-shaped channels 68 arranged back-to-back. The back-to-back arrangement of the C-channels 68 form the flanges 64 and web 62 of the core stiffener insert 58. Each of the channels 68 may be formed from multiple laminated plies of composite tape or fabric formed over a tool (not shown) and then cured. Each of the channels 68 may have radius corners R forming voids 69 filled with radius fillers 70, sometimes referred to as “noodles” which may be fabricated, for example and without limitation from laminated strips of composite tape.

FIG. 9 illustrates another form of the core stiffener insert 58 that is designed to substantially match the stiffness of the flutes 40. The insert 58 has a cross sectional shape that is sometimes referred to as a canted I-beam in which the web 62 is non-perpendicular relative to the outer flanges 64. The canted form of the stiffener insert 58 may be used to avoid excess local joint stiffness that may otherwise create an undesirable loading condition.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate further examples of the core stiffener insert 58 having a cross section forming a multi-leg truss having a width W₁, W₂ that is selected to fit the particular size of the of the joint 54 between adjacent panel ends 48 a, 48 b.

Attention is now directed to FIGS. 12-18 which illustrate the steps of a method of forming the joint 54 between panel ends 48 in accordance with the disclosed embodiments. Beginning at step 72 (FIG. 12) the truss core sandwich panels 30 are fabricated and cured by autoclave or other suitable forms of curing techniques. Next, at 73, the cured panels 30 are laid up over a tool such as the mandrel 50 (FIG. 2), or placed within a locating ring (not shown), and the panel ends 48 are bonded together using, for example and without limitation, the hot bonding process previously described. In the event that a mismatch occurs between the panel ends 48 of the final joint 54, such as where portions 40 a, 40 b of the panel ends overlap as shown in FIG. 13, then the panel ends 48 a, 48 b are altered as described as previously above in preparation for the installation of a core stiffener insert 58 specifically configured to fit the final joint 54. Alteration of the panel ends 48 begins at step 74 in which the multi-ply facesheets 36, 38 are ramped at 92 in FIG. 13. Ramping the panel skins 36, 38 may be achieved either by forming steps using ply drop-offs (see FIG. 16) when the facesheets 36, 38 are laid up, or by machining the steps 92 into the facesheets 36, 38 in the area of the joint 54.

Next, at step 76, portions 40 a, 40 b of the flutes 40 in the area of the joint 54 (FIG. 13) are trimmed away so that the panel ends 48 a, 48 b are cut to form a preselected inter-panel gap 90 shown in FIG. 14 that substantially matches the core stiffener insert 58. At step 78, the core stiffener insert 58 and the scarf splices 60 are laid up and cured. The geometry and size of both the stiffener insert 58 and the scarf splices 60 are be configured to match the dimensions and geometry of the panel ends 48 a, 48 b following the trimming process, including the inter-panel gap 90. In some cases, as shown at step 80, the pre-cured stiffener insert 58 may be trimmed as required to fit the inner panel gap 90 as closely as possible. Next, at 82, the core stiffener insert 58 is located and aligned within the inter-panel gap as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, using suitable fixturing (not shown) which holds the stiffener insert 58 insert in place during the remainder of the bonding process. At 84, a layer of adhesive film 66 (FIG. 15) is placed over ramped portions 94 of the facesheets 36, 38 and the flanges 64 a, 64 b (FIGS. 15 and 16) of the stiffener insert 58.

At 86, the scarf splices 60 are installed over the ramped portions 94 on the facesheets 36, 38, covering the stiffener insert 58, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 18. The installed scarf splices 60 may be vacuum compacted against the facesheets 36, 38 and the stiffener insert 58, and the adhesive film 66 may be cured out-of-autoclave using heat tape (not shown) or the like, in order to hot bond the joint 54. In one exemplary embodiment, bond temperatures typically may be between approximately 250 and 350 degrees F., and bonding pressure may be in the range between approximately 15 and 100 PSI. The bonding pressure can be applied by a vacuum bag, autoclave, rubber bladder or strongback press (all not shown). Mandrels (not shown) may be installed in the flutes 40 to support them during the compaction process, and removed when the hot bonding is completed.

Referring next to FIGS. 19 and 20, embodiments of the disclosure may be used in the context of an aerospace manufacturing and service method 96 as shown in FIG. 19 and an aerospace vehicle 98 as shown in FIG. 12. During pre-production, exemplary method 96 may include specification and design 100 of the aerospace vehicle 98 and material procurement 102. During production, component and subassembly manufacturing 104 and system integration 106 of the aircraft 98 takes place. During step 104, the disclosed method and apparatus may be employed to fabricate composite parts such as fuselage sections and fuel tanks which are then assembled at step 106. Thereafter, the aerospace vehicle 98 may go through certification and delivery 108 in order to be placed in service 110. While in service by a customer, the aerospace vehicle 98 may be scheduled for routine maintenance and service 110 (which may also include modification, reconfiguration, refurbishment, and so on).

Each of the processes of method 96 may be performed or carried out by a system integrator, a third party, and/or an operator (e.g., a customer). For the purposes of this description, a system integrator may include without limitation any number of aircraft manufacturers and major-system subcontractors; a third party may include without limitation any number of vendors, subcontractors, and suppliers; and an operator may be an airline, leasing company, military entity, service organization, and so on.

As shown in FIG. 20, the aerospace vehicle 98 produced by exemplary method 96 may include an airframe 114 with a plurality of systems 116 and an interior 118. The disclosed method and apparatus may be employed to fabricate fuselage sections which form part of the airframe 114. Examples of high-level systems 116 include one or more of a propulsion system 120, an electrical system 122, a hydraulic system 124, and an environmental system 126. Any number of other systems may be included. Although an aerospace example is shown, the principles of the invention may be applied to other industries, such as the automotive industry.

The apparatus embodied herein may be employed during any one or more of the stages of the production and service method 96. For example, components or subassemblies corresponding to production process 104 may be fabricated or manufactured in a manner similar to components or subassemblies produced while the aerospace vehicle 98 is in service. Also, one or more apparatus embodiments may be utilized during the production stages 104 and 106, for example, by substantially expediting assembly of or reducing the cost of an aerospace vehicle 98. Similarly, one or more apparatus embodiments may be utilized while the aerospace vehicle 132 is in service, for example and without limitation, to maintenance and service 112.

Although the embodiments of this disclosure have been described with respect to certain exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the specific embodiments are for purposes of illustration and not limitation, as other variations will occur to those of skill in the art. 

1. A curved composite structure, comprising: first and second composite panels each having an end and first and second facesheets, each of the panels further including a core sandwiched between the first and second facesheets; and a joint coupling the ends of the panels together, the joint including a core stiffener insert configured to accommodate variations in the panel ends.
 2. The curved composite structure of claim 1, wherein the core is a fluted core.
 3. The curved composite structure of claim 1, wherein the core stiffener insert is one of: a substantially 90 degree I-beam, a canted I-beam, and a double legged truss member.
 4. The curved composite structure of claim 1, wherein the joint further includes first and second scarf splices.
 5. The curved composite structure of claim 4, wherein: the first scarf splice joins the first facesheet of the first and second panels, and the second scarf splice joins the second facesheet of the first and second panels.
 6. The curved composite structure of claim 4, wherein each of the scarf splices is joined to the core stiffener insert.
 7. The curved composite structure of claim 4, wherein: the core stiffener insert is adhesively bonded to the fluted core of each of the panels and to each of the first and second scarf splices.
 8. The curved composite structure of claim 1, wherein the core stiffener insert is substantially symmetric about a centerline passing through the joint.
 9. A composite structure, comprising: a plurality of curved panels joined together to form a closed curved cross section, each of the panels including a core sandwiched between a pair of facesheets; and a joint between at least two of the panels, including a core stiffener insert configured to match-up the cores of the two panels.
 10. The composite structure of claim 9, wherein the core stiffener insert is one of: a substantially 90 degree I-beam, a canted I-beam, and a double legged truss member.
 11. The composite structure of claim 9, wherein the joint further includes scarf slices bonded to the core stiffener insert and to the facesheets of the two panels.
 12. The composite structure of claim 9, wherein the core stiffener insert is bonded to portions of the cores of the two panels.
 13. The composite structure of claim 9, wherein the core stiffener insert is substantially symmetric about a centerline passing through the joint.
 14. A method of fabricating a composite structure, comprising: forming first and second panels each having a fluted core and an end, wherein the fluted cores are mismatched at the panel ends; altering the panel ends to match-up the mismatched cores; and joining the altered panel ends together.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein altering the panel ends includes removing a portion of the end of the core of at least one of the panels, such that the core ends are matched.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein joining the panel ends includes installing a core stiffener insert between the matched core ends.
 17. The method of claim 14, wherein joining the altered panel ends includes: installing a core stiffener insert between the altered panel ends that mates with the cores of the first and second panels.
 18. A composite barrel section fabricated by the method of claim
 14. 19. A method of fabricating a composite structure, comprising: providing two composite panel ends each having a fluted core sandwiched between first and second facesheets, wherein the ends of the cores are mismatched; and joining the panel ends with a core stiffener insert that mates the mismatched core ends and transfers load between the facesheets and across the panels.
 20. The method of claim 19, further comprising: matching the core ends to the core stiffener insert by removing at least a portion of one of the core ends.
 21. The method of claim 19, further comprising: installing a first splice between the first facesheets of the panels, and installing a second splice between the second facesheets of the panels.
 22. The method of claim 21, further comprising: bonding each of the first and second splices with the core stiffener insert.
 23. A method of fabricating a composite barrel section for aerospace applications, comprising: forming a plurality of curved sandwich panels each having a fluted core sandwiched between a pair of face sheets; joining ends of the panels together along joints; trimming the panel ends at a final joint between the panel to form a preselected inter-panel gap; scarfing the facesheets in the area of the inter-panel gap; fabricating and pre-curing a pair of composite laminate scarf splices; fabricating and precuring a composite core stiffener insert; installing the insert in the inter-panel gap; applying a film adhesive over the combination of the scarfed facesheets and the insert; placing the scarf splices on the scarfed facesheets; compacting the scarf splices against the facesheets; hot bonding the joint, including curing the film adhesive.
 24. A composite barrel section for aerospace applications, comprising: a plurality of curved composite sandwich panels joined together, each of the panels including a fluted core sandwiched between a pair of composite facesheets; at least one pair of the panels having an inter-panel gap therebetween; and a joint connecting the pair of panels together, the joint including a precured composite core stiffer insert having a substantially I-shaped cross section installed in the gap and bonded to each of the panels in the pair thereof, the joint further including ramps on each of the face sheets and scarf splices adhesively bonded to the facesheets and to the core stiffener insert. 